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[liquidambar]

I voted for three horribly dry states.  I hate cold, but I've lived through it before (grad school).  A week long conference in a dry state gives me skin problems.  I'll take heat and humidity any day.

[aandsdean]

If you'd asked me this question when I was 25, I would have named at least two of the three states where I've lived since then.

These same two I have been known to mock mercilessly.

My wife is from one of them.  My dad graduated from college in the same state (which is why I mocked it, primarily). 

I interviewed for a job there this spring and would have gone back in a second.

It's funny how things change.

(According to these rules of irony, my next residences will be in Alaska, Arizona, and North Dakota.  I could readily see myself living in Alabama because then case and her future spouse and I could go biking together, but I know I'd have to promise not to use my iPod.  It might be worth the sacrifice.)

[larryc]

I am a freak and have been happy in all kinds of places. Yet I probably could not live in a megalopolis for long--if southern California were an option I'd have chosen it three times.

As it is I picked the Dakotas (rural is fine, but flat is deadly dull) and Texas. Because it is full of Texans.

[untenured]

There are two places for me.

1. Where my family and friends live.

2. Everywhere else.

If I have to move away from #1, it's all really the same to me.  I'd be equally unhappy.

Untenured

[historywoman]

I am a freak and have been happy in all kinds of places. Yet I probably could not live in a megalopolis for long--if southern California were an option I'd have chosen it three times.

As it is I picked Texas. Because it is full of Texans.

Watch it now.  Them's fighting words!

HW

[historywoman]

I am a freak and have been happy in all kinds of places. Yet I probably could not live in a megalopolis for long--if southern California were an option I'd have chosen it three times.

As it is I picked the Dakotas (rural is fine, but flat is deadly dull) and Texas. Because it is full of Texans.

Oops, Larry C, I quoted your sentence incorrectly. Forgot to use ellipses.  It should read "As it is, I picked. . .Texas.  Because it is full of Texans."

Them's still fighting words!

HW

[chemystery]

Anywhere hot for more than a couple of months out of the year.  

Take a map of the continental U.S. and draw a horizontal line halfway between the top and the bottom.  See the bottom half?  I ignored all of the jobs there (except for the one 10 miles from my PhD school at which two people from my research lab already worked.  But that wasn't because I wanted it.  I just knew I would kick myself if I didn't get a job elsewhere and hadn't applied to that school).

I'm now happily settled into a northern climate, waiting for fall weather.

[normative_]

I wavered on North Dakota, then figured it was more important to put Utah on the list. I also wouldn't move to Saudi Arabia, so I chose Nebraska and Kansas.

And not because of the desert.

[normative_]

The entire Bible belt. I can't live somewhere where flipping through the radio requires that I hear even a clip of some psycho Jesus Freak.

Amen.

[fiona]

This question is mostly asking for regional stereotypes, which makes the comment below especially valuable.

The Fiona


.

If you'd asked me this question when I was 25, I would have named at least two of the three states where I've lived since then.

These same two I have been known to mock mercilessly.

My wife is from one of them.  My dad graduated from college in the same state (which is why I mocked it, primarily). 

I interviewed for a job there this spring and would have gone back in a second.

It's funny how things change.

(According to these rules of irony, my next residences will be in Alaska, Arizona, and North Dakota.  I could readily see myself living in Alabama because then case and her future spouse and I could go biking together, but I know I'd have to promise not to use my iPod.  It might be worth the sacrifice.)

[draco]

Excuse me, Merigan?

But then again, I agree with Case (who was speaking of Alabama), but hey, if you don't like my state (Mississippi) it means we won't get too crowded!

I used to live in SC, so we had to rip on someone.  Otherwise, we would have been last in everything.  :)

[expatinuk]

I find it interesting that most folks are saying that they can't live in some place because of the weather.

I used to live in Looz-e-anna... I didn't put it on my list although I would kill myself if I had to move back there.

[fishbrains]

I am a freak and have been happy in all kinds of places. Yet I probably could not live in a megalopolis for long--if southern California were an option I'd have chosen it three times.

As it is I picked the Dakotas (rural is fine, but flat is deadly dull) and Texas. Because it is full of Texans.

Hey, LarryC: Why wasn't Jesus born in Texas? They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin! (Ha! Rim shot!)

Texas and Utah have been the only states I've actively avoided. Eastern New Mexico was a living hell--dust, a-holes, and heat--but the Western half isn't bad. I actually liked North Dakota, except for the ginormous mosquitoes flying away with the smaller children.

[iomhaigh]

I have some lapsed excommunicated Mormon friends who say that Ogden and certain parts of Salt Lake City are actually quite nice places to live.  If gay ex-Mormons feel safe there, then I trust that I would be okay.  Plus, it is gorgeous out there. 

[englitprof]

I picked North Dakota (cold, flat, empty, windy) and Alaska and Hawaii (because even though they're gorgeous, travel is an expensive pain in the a$$ and the cost of living is ridiculous).